Another step.
"My palace."
His gaze locked on hers.
"And you are my… maid, Aven."
The word hung heavily in the air.
The tension in the kitchen was still thick.
Aven stood near the counter, gripping the spoon.
Rowan stood a few steps away, watching her.
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
Footsteps.
The kitchen door creaked open.
Cassian stepped inside.
"Uh… Aven?"
Both of them turned toward him.
Cassian held something in his hand.
"Your pendant," he said, walking a little closer. "You dropped it in the corridor earlier."
Rowan's eyes immediately moved to the pendant.
His expression darkened.
Aven quickly stepped forward and snatched it from Cassian's hand.
"Uh… thank you," she said quickly.
She immediately closed her fingers around it.
Rowan's gaze was sharp now.
"Don't you think it's a little late for casual visits, Captain?"
Cassian stiffened slightly.
"Uh… I was just returning—"
"Go."
Rowan's voice was quiet.
But dangerous.
The kitchen fell silent.
Cassian glanced between them, clearly confused by the tension.
"…Right."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Goodnight then."
He quickly left the kitchen.
The door closed behind him.
For a moment, only the sound of the small kitchen fire remained.
Rowan looked at Aven once more.
His gaze lingered on the pendant in her hand.
Then he turned.
Without another word—
He walked out.
Aven stood there alone.
"…What just happened?" she whispered.
She looked down at the pendant in her hand.
Then sighed.
"This palace is exhausting."
Aven rubbed her face tiredly and finally left the kitchen.
Heading back to her room.
Morning came slowly over the palace.
The courtyard was already busy with guards and servants moving around.
Aven walked outside the palace gates, stretching her arms and yawning.
"…Too early," she muttered.
Nearby, Cassian stood with a few guards, checking the morning patrol.
When he noticed her walking toward him, he raised an eyebrow.
Aven smiled lazily.
"Morning… handsome."
Cassian blinked.
"Uh… morning."
Aven leaned against the stone railing.
"So you're working this early? Must be exhausting."
Cassian shrugged.
"Sometimes."
He glanced at her messy hair.
"You're usually still asleep at this hour."
Aven yawned again.
"Yeah… I still want to sleep more."
Cassian chuckled softly.
Suddenly—
Someone rushing through the courtyard bumped into Aven by accident.
"Sorry!"
But Aven had already lost her balance.
"Whoa—!"
She slipped forward—
And Cassian caught her.
One arm around her waist.
The other steadying her shoulder.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Aven froze.
Her face was very close to his.
Too close.
Cassian also seemed surprised.
Neither of them moved.
Aven's heart suddenly beat faster.
Then she quickly pushed herself away.
"Uh—thank you!"
She stepped back quickly.
Cassian looked away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"…Uh. Sorry."
Aven blinked.
"…For catching me?"
Cassian cleared his throat.
"Just… reflex."
An awkward silence fell between them.
Then Aven smirked slightly.
"Well."
She crossed her arms.
"Good reflexes, Captain."
Cassian tried not to smile.
Cassian cleared his throat.
Aven quickly looked away.
"…I should go," she said suddenly.
Before he could respond, she hurried inside the palace.
Cassian watched her leave and chuckled softly.
"…Strange girl."
Inside the palace corridor…
Aven leaned against a pillar, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Calm down," she muttered.
"It was just a fall."
She rubbed her face.
"Why am I acting weird?"
Just then, Merry approached her.
"Aven?"
Aven quickly straightened.
"Oh. Hey."
Merry tilted her head.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Aven said quickly.
Merry hesitated.
"Can I ask you something?"
Aven shrugged.
"Yeah, ask."
Merry looked a little embarrassed.
"…Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Aven choked on air.
"WHAT?!"
Merry's face turned red.
"I mean— not like that!"
Aven narrowed her eyes.
"…Oh?"
"My roommate," Merry explained quickly. "I can't sleep in the room with her anymore."
Aven crossed her arms.
"Why? She sleeping with someone else?"
Merry groaned.
"You're taking this in a completely different direction."
Aven sighed.
"Alright, alright."
She looked at Merry more seriously.
"…What happened?"
Merry hesitated.
"She… says things."
Aven's expression hardened.
"…Let's go."
A few minutes later…
Merry's room.
Aven pushed the door open and stepped inside.
A maid sitting near the bed looked up in surprise.
Aven crossed her arms.
"What's your name?"
The maid blinked.
"…You're asking my name?"
"Yes."
"…Cia."
Aven repeated quietly.
"…Cia."
Then she slowly walked closer.
Cia frowned.
"What do you—"
Suddenly Aven grabbed her collar and pulled her up.
Cia gasped.
"What the hell?!"
"Shut up," Aven said calmly.
The room went silent.
Aven leaned closer.
"You bully Merry."
Cia scoffed.
"What? I don't—"
"Admit it."
"I said I don't!"
Aven grabbed her collar tighter.
"Admit it."
Cia glared at her.
Then finally rolled her eyes.
"…Fine."
Aven's grip tightened slightly.
"You did."
"Yeah."
Aven stared at her for a moment.
Then she released her collar.
"Don't you dare do it again."
Cia adjusted her clothes angrily.
"Fine. Now go."
Aven stepped back toward the door.
But before leaving, she said quietly—
"If Merry cries again because of you…"
Her eyes turned cold.
"…you'll regret it."
Then she walked out.
Merry hurried after her.
Later that afternoon…
Aven was walking through the palace corridor with a tray of clean dishes.
She looked tired.
"Why do people eat so much…" she muttered.
Just as she turned the corner—
A voice stopped her.
"Elara."
She paused.
Cassian stood a few steps away, arms crossed.
Aven sighed.
"Captain Guard."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"Captain Guard?"
"Yeah."
She shrugged.
"I don't remember your full title."
Cassian chuckled.
"I heard something interesting today."
Aven kept walking.
"Oh? Palace gossip already?"
Cassian walked beside her.
"They said the new kitchen maid walked into a room… grabbed another maid by the collar… and threatened her."
Aven didn't react.
"That sounds dramatic."
Cassian stopped walking.
"Elara."
She stopped too.
Then slowly turned to look at him.
Cassian studied her carefully.
"…Was it you?"
Aven tilted her head.
"What if it was?"
Cassian shrugged.
"Nothing."
Aven blinked.
"…Nothing?"
Cassian nodded.
"Just confirming."
Aven frowned slightly.
"You're not going to lecture me?"
Cassian smirked.
"I've seen worse fights in the guard training yard."
Aven scoffed.
"Wow. Very comforting."
Cassian leaned closer slightly.
"But I'm curious."
Aven narrowed her eyes.
"About what?"
Cassian looked straight at her.
"Why you did it."
Aven was quiet for a second.
Then she shrugged.
"She was bothering Merry."
Cassian nodded slowly.
"…So you protected her."
Aven rolled her eyes.
"Don't make it sound heroic."
Cassian chuckled.
"Too late."
Aven turned to leave.
"Anyway, Captain Guard, I have work."
Cassian called after her.
"You know…"
She stopped again.
"If you ever get tired of the kitchen…"
Aven looked back.
"…You'd survive pretty well with the guards."
Aven smirked.
"Careful."
She pointed at him.
"I might take your job."
Cassian laughed.
"I'd like to see that."
Aven walked away.
Cassian watched her go, shaking his head.
"…Strange girl."
But he was smiling.
Evening came quickly.
Aven was busy cleaning dishes in the kitchen when a palace servant entered.
"Elara."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"The king has summoned you."
Aven froze.